Camino Francés: Sarria to Santiago
Bookatrekking.com Trips - 8 days
-
Regular days with
- 15 - 20 km per day
- 250 - 500m ascent per day
- T1 Trails
Overview
> Walk from Sarria to Santiago> Cover over 100 kilometers in 6 days
> Spend your nights in cozy hotels and pensións
Santiago de Compostela is well known to everyone. For over 1,000 years pilgrims have walked to this place to visit the tomb of the apostle James in the cathedral. The Camino Francés is the most popular route to complete this journey. The Camino Francés starts in France and has a length of 784 kilometres. To complete the trek in its entirety, you need a lot of time!
The Camino Francés is one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela and, as mentioned, the most frequently chosen variant. The route starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and takes you across the Pyrenees to Spain. Along the way, you pass cities such as Pamplona and Burgos and walk along elongated paths. Surrounded by lavender and wheat fields and perhaps a snow-covered mountain peak, you can let your mind wander to finally bring your journey to a close in Santiago de Compostela.
During this trek, you will walk from Sarria to Santiago in six days. The route can be covered in five days, Bookatrekking.com recommends walking the total distance in six days. We have divided the long third stage from Palas de Rei to Arzúa into two stages, this way the distances are balanced better and you can fully enjoy the whole trek. Covering over 100 kilometers in total, you will walk along the Camino Francés and meet many pilgrims on the way. You'll spend the nights in cozy hotels, pensións, or guesthouses including breakfast.
Why book with us?
You can hike the Camino Francés independently and self-guided. However, stringing an itinerary with all the accommodations together can be complicated. Bookatrekking.com has warm contacts with all accommodations on the Camino Francés and we can take the load of booking every accommodation yourself off your shoulders. Let us help you to make your Camino Francés memories stress-free and enjoy free hiking advice from our trekking experts while you're at it.
Route
What's the plan?Day 1: Arrival in Sarria
You arrive in Sarria the day before you start on the Camino Francés. This contributes to a relaxed start of the trip.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2, Stage 1: Sarria - Portomarín
The tour starts with a gentle route from Sarria to Portomarín. Along the way, you will walk through small villages, beautiful landscapes and past Romanesque churches. Also, near Ferreiros you will pass the mark indicating that it is exactly 100 kilometres to Santiago, popular for a short stop. At the end of the stage, you will arrive in Portomarín, one of the most beautiful villages on this part of the Camino Francés.
Distance: 23 kilometres
Duration: 5,5 hours
Ascent: 370 metres
Descent: 440 metres
Accommodation: Pensión
Day 3, Stage 2: Portomarín - Palas de Rei
After the start, you soon hike up through dense forests, the route taking you through many picturesque villages and along stone paths. Along the way you will pass Castromayor, among others, where you will find remains of an old fortress and a Romanesque church. At the end of the stage, you will arrive in Palas de Rei, one of the most characteristic places on the Camino Francés.
Distance: 25 kilometres
Duration: 6 hours
Ascent: 520 metres
Descent: 320 metres
Accommodation: Pensión
Day 4, Stage 3: Palas de Rei - Melide
Today you have a beautiful stage ahead of you, covering 15 kilometres this day. You will walk over an old medieval bridge after a few kilometres, which may even have survived from Roman times. The trail takes you along ancient paths, trees and green meadows. The finish today is Melide, popular with pilgrims for its many facilities. You can also see the medieval remains of the town there.
Distance: 14,9 kilometres
Duration: 3,5 hours
Ascent: 220 metres
Descent: 320 metres
Accommodation: Pensión
Day 5, Stage 4: Melide - Arzúa
Today the route continues along gravel paths, several old bridges and the medieval town of Ribadiso, just before Arzúa, one of the pilgrims' favourite places. Once you arrive in Arzúa, we recommend tasting the typical local cheese!
Distance: 14 kilometres
Duration: 3 hours
Ascent: 240 metres
Descent: 310 metres
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6, Stage 5: Arzúa - O Pedrouzo
Today is a relaxing hiking day, nice after the effort of the previous day. The walk takes you through eucalyptus forests, charming villages and along small rivers. We highly recommend visiting the chapel of Santa Irene, a popular attraction among pilgrims. According to legend, James' body was meant to be buried in the tomb of this church instead of Santiago, until it was discovered that dragons lived on nearby Pico Sacro. Who knows what else you might encounter along the way...
Distance: 20 kilometres
Duration: 4,5 hours
Ascent: 280 metres
Descent: 390 metres
Accommodation: Pensión
Day 7, Stage 6: O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela
The last walking day of the Camino Francés has arrived. From the top of the 'Monte do Gozo', you have a view of Santiago de Compostela and its beautiful cathedral. A special moment. When you arrive in Santiago, don't forget to go to the Pilgrims' Office for your final stamp and official compostela. A special journey is complete, now you can explore Santiago and perhaps attend the pilgrim mass at the cathedral.
Distance: 20 kilometres
Duration: 4,5 hours
Ascent: 300 metres
Descent: 310 metres
Accommodation: Pensión
Day 8: Departure from Santiago
Your Camino Francés has come to an end, today you will leave Santiago to travel home or to another destination.
What's included
Included:
√ Booking accommodation
We will take care of arranging accommodation for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead.
√ Accommodation
We will arrange your accommodation on the Camino Francés in hotels, guesthouses, or pensións, always with a private bathroom. There are several options to choose from along the trail. We have selected the accommodations on our trek based on the length of each stage and recommendations from trekkers who have done the Camino Francés before us.
√ Accommodation before and after the trek
Before the trek, you will stay in a hotel in Sarria and after the tour, you will stay in a hotel in Santiago, which contributes to a relaxing start and finish of the trip.
√ Breakfast
Breakfast is included if possible during your trip, and will be ready at the accommodation you are staying at.
√ Baggage Transfer
This trek includes the transfer of your luggage throughout the entire trek. Your bags will be picked up every morning from the hotel lobby and will be driven to your next stop. Baggage transfers allow you to travel lighter during the day and enjoy the walk in a more relaxed manner.
√ Credencial and Compostela
We will provide you with a Credencial before your departure. After arriving in Santiago, you can collect your Compostela by presenting your stamped Credencial.
Excluded:
× Transport to Spain
You have to find your own way to Sarria and from Santiago. The price does not include transport to and from Spain. Bus tickets and other transport costs are not included.
× Transfers
Once in Spain, you will have to make your way to the starting place in Sarria. We will provide the instructions and assist you with how to get there. Transport to Sarria and from Santiago is not included.
× Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
× Lunch and dinner during the day
Breakfast is included if applicable in the price of this trek. Lunch and dinner, however, are not included. During the day, you can get something to eat along the way. In the evenings, you can get dinner in the villages you are staying.
× Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.
Accommodation
AccommodationDuring your Camino Francés trek, you will spend your nights in cozy hotels, pensións or guesthouses on or close to the trail. The booked accommodations may differ from the below program here and there. A beautiful location and great food are at all times guaranteed.
DP Cristal
This centrally located hotel is next to the Camino and offers a good start to your trip. Enjoy a good night's sleep and get ready for the days ahead.
Pensión Már
This cozy pensión has everything you need after a day of hiking; centrally located with nice beds and hot showers. A good place to unwind after the day, grab a bite at one of the restaurants nearby.
Pensión Esquina
In this pensión you can relax after the day, you can find a lot of restaurants nearby to enjoy a good meal. After that, it is time to have a good nights sleep in the comfortable rooms of this pensión.
Hotel Arzúa
This comfortable hotel has everything you need after another day on the Camino Francés; a hot shower and a good bed. Get to know the town after freshening up and find a cozy spot for a drink. Cheers to another day!
Pensión Residencial Platas
Located next to the Camino Francés, this pensión offers cozy rooms and also opportunity to do laundry, should you have to. Restaurants and other facilities can be found nearby, after breakfast the next morning you are good to go again.
PR Campanas de San Juan
This cozy pensión is located in the middle of Santiago, close to the cathedral. A perfect place to end your trip and to get to know beautiful Santiago. Enjoy the nice rooms and a good breakfast the next morning.
Packing List
Packing listIt doesn't matter where you are going trekking or for how long: Carrying the right equipment with you is paramount. Hiking the Camino Francés, you will need, first and foremost, a good backpack. The size of your backpack will depend on how many days you will be spending on the trails, the season, and the clothes you will be taking with you. We have prepared a packing list with some essential clothing that you should include and some extras that you may find useful:
Essentials
- Walking boots (worn in)
- Walking socks
- Base layer tops – ideally thermal
- Mid-layer tops (eg. fleece)
- Trekking Trousers
- Hat for warmth or shade
- Gloves
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Warm layer
- Casual clothes & footwear for evenings
- Nightwear and underwear
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses & sun cream
- Toiletries
- Cash
Extras
- Small first aid kit
- Blister Plasters
- Insect repellent
- Electrical socket adapter
- Camera and charger
- Map and compass
- Whistle
- Reading book(s)
- Energy snacks
- Walking poles
- Buff
FAQ
FAQWhere is the Camino Francés?
The Camino Francés is located in northwestern Spain. It runs from the border area between France and Spain in the Pyrenees towards the Atlantic coast. The Camino Francés runs from east to west. The full route of the Camino Francés is 784 kilometres long and runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
How do I get to and from the Camino Francés?
The places around the Camino Francés are easy to get to, depending on your plan and itinerary, you may take a little longer to get to your starting or departure point. The Camino Francés starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Sarria is the place where Bookatrekking.com starts the journey of over 100 kilometres to Santiago.
Starting in Sarria
If you start from Sarria, Santiago airport is the closest. From Santiago, travel to Sarria by bus or train to start your Camino Francés. There are also good train connections to Madrid and Barcelona, you can also fly into one of these airports and travel on to Sarria by train.
Departure from Santiago
From Santiago, you can go in different directions. By plane, train or bus, you can travel home or to another destination. The airport is easily accessible from Santiago city centre and flies to many European destinations.
Safety
SafetyThe Camino Francés is a safe route, though it is important to pay close attention to your important belongings. Should you become distressed despite your preparations, the most important thing to do in an emergency situation is to stay calm and get an overview of the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if the people in need are difficult to reach. In an emergency situation, first and foremost, call for assistance. When calling for help, provide your location and the number of victims and the nature of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental hazards and administer first aid, if you can.
Useful emergency phone numbers:
General Spanish Emergency number: 112
Police (national): 091
COVID-19
COVID-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has had its grip on us, and accommodations around the world have had to take several preventive measures over the past two years. In the meantime, most of the measurements are not taken into consideration anymore, yet it is definitely still a factor to take into account. Some restrictions that are worth mentioning:
- Don't go on your hiking trip if you have symptoms.
- Not all the accommodations are allowed to operate at full capacity yet, so make sure you book your stay in advance.
- Keep your distance and hygiene.
- Use disinfectants and hand sanitizers.
How to Book
How to Book?
On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking your match? In that case, you can proceed with your booking. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 30% of the total amount. In the case of this trek, we will check the availability at the respective accommodations for you. There are two possible outcomes:
√ There is availability
We go ahead and make all necessary arrangements for your trip. Once confirmed, we will send you a confirmation and your personal hiking guide. The remaining 70% must be paid at least two (2) weeks before the start of the trekking.
X There is no availability
If there is no availability, we will look for other starting dates or another trekking in agreement with you. Are there no other options for you? Then your deposit of 30% will be refunded.
Cancellation Policy
If all the accommodations of this trekking are booked and confirmed, you will lose your deposit of 30% at all times. If you cancel within 14 days of your start date, you will lose your full booking amount.
Is it not quite clear yet or do you have questions? Please contact us via support@bookatrekking.com. We are happy to help you.
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